Auto jack



06f. 16, 1951 s, ROMEO 2,571,615

AUTO JACK Filed Nov. 27, 1948 INVEN T0111. SAMUEL moms ROMEO ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTO JACK Samuel Thomas Romeo, Baltimore, Md.

Application November 27, 1948, Serial No. 62,336

2 Claims. (01. 254-86) This invention relates to lifting jacks for the raising of motor vehicles so their wheels will be above the ground while inspection or repairs to their tires are being made. It particularly refers to the use of such jacks with automobile or motorvehicle where the jack is permanently attached to a selected part of the construction.

It is an object of the invention to provide a new and improved lifting jack for motor vehicles that will avoid one or more of the objections, disadvantages and limitations of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved lifting jack for a motor vehicle that can be permanently attached to the latter, ready for instant use and applicable to a portion of its construction where it may raise the vehicle bodily with all its wheels on one side off the ground at the same time.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved lifting jack for a motor vehicle that may be attached to the construction conveniently and provide for automatic retraction when not in use, so it will be out of the way.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a new and improved lifting jack for a motor vehicle that can adjust itself to unevenness in the roadway and to incidental angular position of the vehicle while being raised or lowered.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fully set forth.

In order to appreciate the invention in its structural form, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which portray a particular form of the invention by way of example. These drawings are explained inthe following description so that the functions and principles of the invention may be understood, while the claims indicate the scope thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hydraulic jack embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the jack shown connected to a hydraulic system and attached to the chassis of a conventional automobile;

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the jack attached to the chassis as the latter is being raised by the jack;

Figure 5 is a view of the hydraulic tank with parts broken away to show its inner construction; and

Figure 6 shows a modified form of pumper plate.

Similar reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the drawings.

In the drawings, a chassis H] of a four-wheel automobile is shown with its wheels l2 and tires ll mounted thereon in a conventional manner. The chassis I0 is arranged so a jack may be attached to its middle portions [3 on each side underneath. This provides for two jacks 20, each of which is intended to raise the automobile and the wheels on one side off the ground, while resting on the wheels on the opposite side. This produces a moderate angular positioning of the vehicle about the axis, and leaves the underside of the automobile accessible for any purpose, but particularly for removing or replacing tires on the Wheels. Each jack 20 is of the hydraulic type, and operated by hydraulic propelling cylinder l4 in which a piston l5 and piston rod l6 reciprocate. The cylinder I4 is fed with hydraulic fluid I! through piping l8, and the piston rod l6 passes through a stuffing box l9 mounted on the lower side of the cylinder. The piston rod l6 has a circular ground plate 2| connected to its exterior end portion by a bolt 22 and has a rubber bumper 23 attached to its underside to cushion its contact with the ground. The plate 2| is surmounted by a large washer 24 fastened to it by countersunk screws 25 to hold it rigid thereon. This washer 24 is surmounted by a coil spring 26 under tension and welded to it at one end 21. The other end 28 is welded to the upper portion of the cylinder l 4. The purpose of spring 26 is to act as a buffer in the event of the failure of the hydraulic system while the car is jacked up. It also acts as a bumper when the car is let down and it helps in retracting the ground abutment when the jack is withdrawn from operation. The cylinder at this end is screw threaded into a hydraulic chest 30 serving as a base for the cylinder. The chest 30 has a rubber bumper 3| securely attached to it, and to this bumper 3|, a flange 32 is attached. The flange 32 is larger than the bumper 3| and has holes 33 drilled in it for the insertion of bolts 34 that attach it to the chassis ID. The cement or other material used for fastening the bumper to metal or whatever material is employed 'for the flange, chest or plate, is preferably that developed and commercialized by certain rubber cement manufacturers and is of high strength and wearability. It may therefore be used in this instance with propriety and assurance, that it will be serviceable for the purpose.

The piping l8 running from the chest 32 is connected with a hydraulic tank 35 placed under pressure by a pump piston 36 operated by a screw 31. This pump is operated when one of the valves 38 is opened to one of the cylinders I4 by the operator getting ready to actuate the jack on the selected side of the vehicle. The valve 38 is arranged to open the piping to one of the jacks at a time, while closing the other at the same time. When the valve 38 is actuated in this manner the operator starts the screw 31 and proceeds to make the pump'raise its, pressure. Whenthe pressure is raised sufiiciently in the tank 35 and cylinder [4 it pushes the piston l5 and piston rod I6 so that the plate 2| moves with its bumper 23 against the ground and angularly raises the vehicle. This is continued until the automobile is tilted to the proper angle, and pump piston-36 holds the cylinder and pressure at that point.

To release the jack the screw 31 is rotated backward to the point where it releases the pressure of the fluid and allows it to withdraw from '1 the cylinder :l4 ;and slowly. lower. the chassis on that specific side; I-he;opposite: side of the chassisxis-raised :andlowered in a. similar manner.

"Amodifie'd plate B0;is pivotally attached to rod l6 through plate fil, as shownin Fig. 6.

The-valves: are.,available in the commercial worldzanddo not appear to need detailing as far as: their-"structure 'and: operation is concerned. The useofthe jacks'atamiddle point on the chassis saves'considerable time and enables the operator to work:conveniently on the tires and -wheels of the vehicle. ,The tires are tilted at an angle and; may beiszremoved or, replaced more y'thaniwhencthe automobile is raised vertically. "Thezrubben bumpersenable. the jack to accommodate itself to the-angular positioning of thervehicle asitis :raised; without any excessive "stresses-being put on it. s is-done by the rub- =ber resilientlycompressingon one side as "the pressure :induced-iby; the raising-of the vehicle is '--changed*or-yaried. fThe retracting spring'reducesthe intricacy ,of the-structure :and makes is shown in the drawings 'and' described in-the specification, it is not desired to limit this application for' -patent to thisrparticular form, as it is appreciated that other forms of construction 1 could be madethat-- would use 'the same principles and come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A vehicle jack comprising a cylinder, means for securing said cylinder to the chassis of the vehicle including a rubber bumper between said cylinder and chassis, means for admitting pressure fluid tothe upper end of the cylinder, a

piston insaid cylinder; apiston rod secured to said piston and extending outwardly of said cylinder, a washer attached to the free end of the piston, a rubber bumper secured to said washer .and adapted to contact the ground, and a helical spring surrounding said cylinder and having its free ends permanently secured, respectively, to

.said cylinderand-to said washer.

2. A pair of vehicle jacks each of which comprises a cylinder, means for securing said cylinders to opposite middle portions of a vehicle -chassis,-said -means-including a rubber bumper between each ofsaid cylinders and the chassis, means for -admitting-pressure fluid to the upper end ofeach cylinder, comprising a source of pressure fluid, separate pipe lines from said source to said cylinders, a valve on each pipe line, whereby pressure fluid isselectively supplied to said cylinders by controlling the valve, a piston in each of said cylinders, a piston rod secured thereto and extending outwardly of its cylinder, a washer attached to the free end of each piston, a rubber bumper secured to the washer and adapted to contact theground, and a helical spring surrounding each cylinder and having its free ends permanently securedto the associated cylinder and'washer.

SAMUEL- THOMAS ROMEO.

" iREFERENCES CITED The following references are of record ,inthe file ,of this patent:

UNITED; STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,711,565 Hatfield May 7, 1929 2,416,796 Dobbs Mar. 451947 2,444,272 .rsragal -'June 29,.1948

FOREIGN PATENTS Number 7 Country Date 528,932 Great Britain Nov.-11',' 1940 a 622,540 Germany Nov. 30,- 1935 799,604 France Apr. 11, 1936 

